CHEC chases Bulgarian port projects

Bulgaria’s two largest ports, Varna and Bourgas, are expected to post relatively strong growth in their cargo throughputs this year, as both container and dry bulk volumes increase.

But both ports need to modernise their infrastructure if their mediumterm and long-term goals to compete as gateways to the Balkans and Central Europe are to be realised. Beijingbased China Harbour Engineering Co (CHEC) is keen to make this happen.

In August, Port of Varna EAD, which owns the port, issued a €2.5M tender for the reconstruction of the port’s main infrastructure. According to the country’s Public Procurement Agency, the port company wants to enter into a framework agreement with up to three potential contractors, with the planned work taking place over a three-year period.

CHEC is among the companies that have responded to the tender. But Bulk Materials International understands that CHEC is not only interested in bidding for the construction, dredging and reclamation work that would be involved in the port’s rehabilitation and any modernisation of its cargo handling facilities, but also in direct investment and operations in the port of Varna.

CHEC has, for instance, expressed an interest in developing an industrial/ export processing zone for grain, which is one of the main cargoes handled by Varna. With acreages under wheat in Eastern and Central Europe increasing, and China buying more grain from this region, there is significant potential for projects of this nature.

At the smaller port of Bourgas, which is located about 115 km south of Varna, refurbishment work also needs to be carried out. In June, this port received backing from the European Commission (EC), to the tune of €2.3M, for final design work related to improving its infrastructure associated with the EC’s Orient/East Mediterranean transport corridor.

CHEC is a sister company to crane maker ZPMC through its parent, China Communication Construction Corporation (CCCC).

Read this item in fullThis complete item is approximately 300 words in length, and appeared in the November/December 2017 issue of Bulk Materials International, on page 5. To access this issue download the PDF here.

Campaign Placement Area 4

Heading

Latest Features

Features Listing

Claimed to be “the world’s most eco-friendly bulk carriers”, sister ships Viikki and Haaga have been delivered to Aspo Group-owned ESL Shipping from the Jinling shipyard in Nanjing. The 160m, LNG-fuelled vessels of 25,600 dwt emit over 50% less CO2 than the previous generation of vessels.

A milestone 25-year agreement has been reached in Australia between Victoria’s largest bulk port and building materials specialist Boral that will see A$130M invested in a new clinker grinding and cement production plant.

According to reports in Mozambique and China, China Railways International Group is to develop yet another new port in Mozambique, at Chongoene, to handle heavy sands, timber and other bulk exports. Chongoene is located about 230 km north of Maputo, in the south of the country.